Time regulated navigation of travel through an airport

ABSTRACT

A mobile device providing time regulated navigational guidance for travel to a flight gate in an airport terminal, based on the time for boarding the flight, the preferences of the traveler, estimated transit times on various segments of a route to the gate from a starting point of the travel (or the current location of the mobile device) involving different transportation modalities, and wait times at various queues in the airport. Notifications and/or reminders are provided according to the time estimates to guide the travel for timely travel to the gate and optionally recommend points of interests on the way to the gate within the time constraint.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C.§ 120 to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/887,748, filed Oct. 20, 2015 andtitled “TIME REGULATED NAVIGATION OF TRAVEL THROUGH AN AIRPORT” theentirety of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

At least some embodiments disclosed herein relate to the time sensitivenavigation of travel to and through an airport using locationdetermination devices, sensors related to traffic conditions, and mobiledevices providing user interfaces for the navigation operations.

BACKGROUND

There are map applications configured to compute a route for travelingfrom a location to another location. For example, after a user specifiesa starting point and a destination, a map application typically computesa route of road segments from the starting point to the destination andpresents the route on a map. Based on the current location of themap-based navigation device in which the map application is running, themap application may provide turn by turn navigation instructions toassist the driver in following the route to the destination.

Some of the map applications may estimate the arrival time based on thecomputed route. The arrival time may be based on the current speed oftravel and/or the real time traffic conditions. For example, in somesystems, mobile phones moving on roads determine their speeds and/orlocations as a function time and report the speed/location data to acentralized server, which determines the traffic conditions of therespective roads based on the reports received from the mobile phones.The traffic conditions may be presented on the map application and/orused to estimate the arrival time at the destination following thecomputed route.

Such map applications are helpful, but generally insufficient to meetthe navigation needs of a traveler scheduled to board a flight scheduledto take off at a predetermined time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings in which like referencesindicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to provide time regulatednavigation of travel through an airport according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile application implementation of time regulatednavigation according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a method to provide time regulated navigation according toone embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a data processing system that can be used to implement somecomponents of a system according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not tobe construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described toprovide a thorough understanding. However, in certain instances, wellknown or conventional details are not described in order to avoidobscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in thepresent disclosure are not necessarily references to the sameembodiment; and, such references mean at least one.

Air travelers are typically stressed out about time. The fear of missingtheir flight leaves travelers worried, which drives a decision to get totheir airport terminal gate sooner than later. Early arrival at theairport terminal gate may lead to the waste of time.

One embodiment disclosed herein provides a tool and/or mobile devicethat can assemble map data and real time traffic and delay informationand provide a time regulated navigation guidance to a traveler such thatthe traveler may arrive at the airport terminal gate in time andoptionally visit points of interest during the travel to the airportterminal gate. The tool informs the traveler when to leave and/or adjustthe travel plan according to traffic conditions to match the arrivaltime with the takeoff/boarding time for the booked flight. Thus, thetime of the traveler can be best utilized with reduced stress levels.The tool and/or mobile device can therefore provide a personal travelconcierge.

In one embodiment, the tool is configured to piece together the time itwill take to get to the airport terminal gate in order to avoid missingthe booked flight. The tool uses a centralized server to gather relevantinformation from various sources, such as airline websites, postedmessages from the airline and/or the airport, flight leader boards, andthe airport information system. The system further monitors the trafficconditions in various parts of the airport that may cause delays, suchas luggage check-in, security screening, parking, airport groundtransportation system, etc. The tool also considers the personalpreferences (e.g., I like to be at the gate 30 minutes before boarding).The tool combines the real time traffic information and the userpreferences to provide time regulated navigation guidance to make thetravel less arduous and stressful.

For example, the tool is configured to use a website, an API or a mobileapplication of an airline carrier, or a website of an airport to trackthe status of the booked flight. The booked flight may be delayed,and/or changed to a different airport terminal gate for boarding, whichcan affect the time based navigation instructions provided by the tool.

For example, the tool is integrated with a map application of theairport to provide navigation instructions for travel within theairport. The tool uses real time traffic condition data in the airportto determine the real time delays at various choke points within theairport, such as luggage check-in, security screening, parking, airportground transportation between parking structure to terminals, betweenterminals, and/or traffic delay at the drop-off areas at departureterminals, etc. Based on the real time information, the tool computesthe optimal time to leave home or work or the current location of thetraveler, considering personal preferences such as how long in advanceof boarding the traveler prefer to arrive at the gate.

In one embodiment, a centralized server is configured as a digitalplatform that manages real time data related to the journey of thetraveler on the day of traveler from a starting location (e.g., home,work, or a current location) to the airport terminal gate. Through amobile application running in a mobile device of the traveler, thesystem informs the traveler of how much time they have remaining basedon the preferences of the traveler's, where the traveler is currentlylocated, the estimated time it will take the traveler to get to thegate, and recommendations for activities at the airport. For example, ifthe system calculates that the traveler has an estimated time of arrivalat the gate (125) that is more than a predetermined period of time(e.g., 90-minutes) ahead of the required time of arrival for the flightdeparture time, based on the current location of the traveler/mobiledevice (101), the system is configured to recommend things to do basedon this time and location, such as a visit to the store (121) or anotherpoint of interest within or near the airport. The mobile applicationhelps the traveler plan the trip from a single interface and singleplatform.

In one embodiment, the mobile application provides time regulatednavigation instructions based on the current location of the mobiledevice, the traffic conditions, and map data of the road system betweenthe current location of the mobile device and the airport, and the mapof ground transportation system and transport corridors within theairport, and the expected delays within the airport.

For example, after the traveler books a flight via the mobileapplication or identifies the booked flight to the mobile application,the traveler may set and/or adjust his preferences in the mobileapplication. The preferences may be communicated from the mobileapplication to the centralized server for storage.

For example, a traveler may specify a preference to arrive 30 min beforeboarding, travel with family (which may cause the system to add 45 minto travel time based on interviews with customers traveling withchildren or statistic data of tracking travelers with children). Thetraveler may indicate whether the traveler plans to check in luggage, apreference for parking (e.g., cheapest), an authorization to providenotification with text message, and a preference for the reminder timeof the notification (e.g., 15 min before the traveler needs to leave)

For example, on the day of travel, the system determines that the flightof the traveler is scheduled at 3:15 pm today and has a boarding periodstarting at 2:45 pm. The platform and/or the mobile applicationdetermines that 150 min of time is needed to for the travel to the gate,including:

+45 min drive to the airport based on the traveler's mobile device;

+45 min Family prep time;

+5 min average checked luggage time;

+25 min from cheapest parking lot to the terminal including shuttletime; and

+30 min preferred arrival time before boarding.

For example, at 12:00 pm, the system calculates that 12:30 pm is anideal time to leave and start the travel to the airport (e.g., based on2:45 pm minus 150 min). Thus, the mobile application is configured todisplay a green bar at 12:15 pm, indicating that the traveler is stillwithin the time budget.

Since the user may not be using the mobile application at the time, thesystem is configured to notify the traveler via a push notification thatthe traveler needs to leave in 15 min, or via an alarm set in the mobileapplication to provide the notification.

After the traveler waits 20 minutes to get moving, the user interface ofthe mobile application changes to orange and notifies the traveler(e.g., via a push notification or an alarm set in the mobileapplication) that they might want to head out to the airport or theywill be late.

In one embodiment, the mobile application may suggest that to save timethe traveler can pre-order food from a food operator at the airport fordelivery to the gate area. The traveler agrees via the user interface ofthe mobile application and purchases food in advance. The mobileapplication requests if it is ok to adjust the preference from arriving30 minutes before boarding down to 15 minutes. The traveler agrees andthe user interface of the mobile application acknowledges and turnsgreen.

In one embodiment, the mobile application learns this behavior andadjusts the preferences such that the next time it notifies the travelerthat it is time to go, it also asks whether the traveler would like topre-order their food to save time.

In one embodiment, when the current travel arrangement is expected tocause the travel to be late for the flight, the mobile application maycompute an alternative arrangement, such as adjusting a parkingarrangement, adjusting a mode and/or route of travel within the airport,etc.

In one embodiment, the time durations obtained to guide the user totravel in a timely manner to the airport terminal gate includes, but notlimited to, personal preferences, driving times, and airport wait times.Personal preferences (e.g., the preferred time of arrival at the gatebefore boarding starts, the reminder time period before the user needsto start the travel to the airport) may be entered and/or adjusted bythe user via a user interface of the mobile application and/or predictedby the system based on historical user input.

In one embodiment, the driving times can be obtained from a maps APIthat is generally configured to estimate the driving times from point Ato point B on a road system. Alternatively, the system may include themap function of computing a driving route from point A to point B on aroad system to provide the turn by turn navigation and the estimate ofthe driving time.

In one embodiment, the centralized server obtains various queue times atan airport (e.g., Check-in, TSA Security, Concessions le or more ofqueue monitoring or tracking technologies. For example, in oneembodiment, the delay time of a queue is obtained via the trackingand/or monitoring of signals from cell phones (e.g., Cellular, WiFi,Bluetooth signals transmitted by the cell phones and moved through thequeue). In another embodiment, devices for detecting passenger motionare used to monitor the queue and its delay time. In a furtherembodiment, a camera is used to capture an image of a queue, detect thenumber of persons in the queue from the image and/or the progressivechange of the queue as a function of time, and compute the delay time ofthe queue. In a further embodiment, the queue delay time is obtainedfrom a website or a mobile application of an operator of the queue(e.g., TSA, or the airline).

Thus, the mobile application provides the management of time forcomplete trip from a starting location (e.g., home, work, or a currentlocation) to the airport terminal gate for the flight, based on thecurrent location of the mobile device of a traveler and the personalpreferences of the traveler. In one embodiment, the mobile applicationprovides color coded notifications to provide time based navigationguidance for the travel to the gate, especially when the user is notactively using the mobile application before the travel or during breaksin the travel (e.g., visiting a point of interest on the way to thegate, within the airport). The mobile application allows the user to seta reminder period for the notifications such that the activities of theuser can be better managed. Based on the time remaining, the currentlocation of the mobile device, the preferences of the traveler, and thereal time traffic/queue conditions, the mobile application may recommendvisits to points of interest, adjustments to travel arrangement (e.g.,parking, drop-off location at the airport, mode of transportation,transport corridor within the airport, pre-order for delivery,electronic check-in with airline).

In one embodiment, the system is configured to determine the timerequired to gate by adding the preference time allotments, the estimatedtransit times (e.g., walk, ride, drive), and wait times (e.g., check-inwith airline, airport security screening).

The preference time allotments are obtained as inputs from the travelerthrough a user interface of the mobile application (or predicted basedon past interaction with the traveler or similar travelers). Examples ofpreference time allotments include, but not limited to:

Transportation type to airport;

Type of Parking (offsite, onsite);

Baggage Check-in (yes/no);

Traveling with kids (yes/no);

Traveling with colleagues (yes/no);

Arrive at the gate X minutes before boarding;

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-check/Global Entry(yes/no); and

Picking up goods or services (type of good/service and location).

In one embodiment, when the time to boarding minus the estimated time tothe gate is greater than a threshold (e.g., 15 minutes), the mobile userinterface shows green; when the time to boarding minus the time to gateis between 0 and the threshold (e.g., 15 minutes), the mobile userinterface shows yellow or orange; and when the time to boarding is lessthan the time to gate, the mobile user interface shows red.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to provide time regulatednavigation of travel through an airport according to one embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a mobile device (101) is configured to provide a userinterface to guide the user for a trip from a predetermined location,such as the home (111), or the current location of the mobile device(101) to the gate (125) in the airport terminal (123) to board theaircraft (127) for a booked flight in a timely manner.

In FIG. 1, the mobile device (101) has a location determination unit101) to compute the current location of the mobile device (101) (e.g.,using a GPS receiver to compute the coordinates of the mobile device(101) on the earth based on the GPS signals (129) transmitted from aplurality of GPS satellites (e.g., 109)).

In some embodiments, the mobile device (101) determines a location ofthe mobile device using cellular communication signals, or via otherlocation determination techniques.

In FIG. 1, the mobile device (101) is configured to have a communicationconnection to a server (103) via a wireless communications access point(107), such as a cellular communications base station, or a wirelesslocal area network access point.

The mobile device (101) is configured with a user interface to receiveuser preferences regarding the trip to the gate (125), such as thetransportation modality for the travel to the airport via a road system,the need for a parking space, the preference regarding the parkingspace, etc. The preferences are used to determine the time periodsrequired to go through various key locations (e.g., parking lot (113),end point (115) of transportation to the airport, the check-in location(117) with the airline, the security screening point (119), etc.) in theairport to reach the gate (125).

In one embodiment, some of the key locations in the airport may havequeues that require wait times for the traveler to go through. Thesystem as illustrated in FIG. 1 includes sensors and/or data collectionsystems at the key locations to determine the current wait times at thecorresponding locations.

For example, an airline may monitor the wait time at the check-inlocation (117) and provide the information to the server (103) via anapplication programming interface, a web service, or to the mobiledevice (101) via a mobile application.

For example, the airport of one embodiment is configured with motionsensors or cameras to detect the status of the queues that key locationsto provide the estimated wait times the key locations, such as thesecurity screening point (119), the parking lot (113), etc.

The server (103) is configured to communicate over the network (105) tocollect the information related to the wait times at the key locationsin the airport.

In one embodiment, the server (103) is configured with a map service tocompute a route from the current location of the mobile device (101) tothe ground transportation end point in the airport, such as the drop-offlocation (115) or the parking lot (113). The transit time on the routeis estimated (e.g., based on the traffic conditions reported from mobiledevices on the road system). In some embodiments, the server (103) isconfigured to communicate with a separate map server using a web serviceor application programming interface to obtain the route and theestimated transit time. In other embodiments, the mobile device (101) isconfigured to obtain the route and the estimated transit time from theseparate map server.

Based on the time constraint of the flight, the user preferences, thetransit time on the road to the airport, the transit time from keylocations to the gate, and the wait times at various key locations inthe airport, the mobile device (101) and/or the server (103) computesthe time-based navigational guidance for the timely trip to the gate(125) and optionally suggest the visit of points of interest (e.g., 121)on the way to the gate 125) when time permits.

FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile application implementation of time regulatednavigation according to one embodiment.

In FIG. 2, the mobile device (101) is configured with a transceiver(131) to communicate with the server (103) via an access point (107)(e.g., the base station of a cellular communications network, or awireless route for an location area network).

In FIG. 2, the mobile device (101) is configured with a positiondetermination unit (139) that computes the current position of themobile device (101) from satellite or ground-based positioning systemsignals (e.g., GPS signal (129)) or cellular communications signals.

In FIG. 2, the mobile device (101) has a mobile application (137) storedin the memory (135) and executed by the microprocessor(s) (133) toprovide the time-based navigational guidance on the user interface(155). The navigational guidance is provided based on the time forboarding the flight at the gate (125) and the time period estimated forthe travel from the current location of the mobile device (101) to thegate (125).

In one embodiment, the navigational guidance prompts the user of themobile device (101) to start the travel on a segment of the trip fromthe current location, such as taking a ride or driving a car to theairport, checking in with the airline, passing the security checkpoint,leaving an optional point of interest (121), or heading to the gate(125) at the boarding area for the flight. Different segments of thetrip to the gate (125) may use different transportation modalitiesand/or different transportation systems.

In one embodiment, the mobile application computes and updates theestimated time of arrival at the gate (125) based on the currentlocation of the mobile device (101) and real time traffic informationand wait time at the airport queues. The estimated time of arrival atthe gate (125) is compared with the scheduled time for boarding at thegate to provide the navigational guidance (e.g., within a reminder timeperiod).

For example, if the mobile application (101) determines that the mobiledevice is already on the road to the airport and the time estimated timeof arrival at the gate (125) is more than a predetermined time periodbefore the time of boarding, the mobile application (101) may skip areminder for prompting the user to start the trip to the airport.

However, if the time estimated time of arrival at the gate (125) is lessthan a predetermined time period before the time of boarding, the mobileapplication (101) provides an alert, alarm, or reminder on the userinterface (155), prompting the user to start the trip with a suggestedroute.

In some embodiments, when it is estimated that the user will be late forthe flight using the preferred transportation mode (e.g., driving a carto an offsite parking lot at the airport, or using a publictransportation system), the mobile application (101) is configured tosuggest an alternative mode of transportation (e.g., obtaining a ridevia taxi or a friend).

In FIG. 2, the server (103) is configured to configured to provide acentralized location to provide resources for the navigational guidance.

For example, the server (103) stores the map data (141) for thenavigation outside the airport in a road system and/or for thenavigation inside the airport to the gate (125).

The server (103) includes communication interfaces (145) to communicatewith one or more delay sensing system (153) and the mobile devices(e.g., 139).

For example, the delay sensing system (153) may include the motionsensors, cameras, or mobile phone signal sensors to measure the delay atvarious queues in the airport, such as check-in (117), security (119),store (121), etc. The queues may include time periods for productpreparation. For example, if the traveler wants to order food on the wayto the gate (125), the system calculates/adds the food preparation timeto the expected time period to the gate (125). For example, if thetraveler has pre-ordered a 45-minute massage, the system calculates/addsthis time into the journey to the gate (125).

For example, the delay sensing system (153) may include a map serviceplatform that tracks the movement of mobile phones on a road system todetermine the speeds of traffic flows on various segments of the roadsystem.

The server (103) stores the delay measurements (143) for thedetermination of the time period required to travel to the gate (125).

In FIG. 2, the server (103) also stores and updates the flightinformation (151), such as the gates of boarding for various flights,the staring times of boarding of the flights, the flights booked by theusers of the mobile devices (e.g., 101), etc.

In FIG. 2, the server (103) stores the preferences (147) of the usersand the communication references (149) for the mobile devices (101)running the mobile application (137). The communication references (149)for the mobile devices allows the server (103) to initiate acommunication with the mobile device (101) and/or the mobile application(137) at a time the user is required to take an action for timelyarrival at the gate (125) for boarding the flight of the user.

For example, the mobile device (101) includes a mobile phone; and thecommunication reference (149) includes a mobile phone number to which atext message can be sent to the mobile device (101), in accordance withthe preferences (147), as an alert that causes the mobile application(137) to be used to present detailed navigational guidance.

In some embodiments, the navigational guidance is provided with abrowser running in the mobile device (101) and visiting the server(103).

In one embodiment, the server (103) aggregates 3rd party data feeds(e.g. flight data, TSA wait times, food/product preparation times). Theserver (103) communicates relevant parts of 3rd party times to themobile application (137) through an application programming interface(API). The server (103) stores user preferences (147) and providesrecommendations of points of interests (121) through an API (same on asabove ii) and/or the navigational alerts.

The mobile application (137) is configured to calculate and update theamount of time to get to the gate (125) based the current location ofthe mobile device (101) and the data provided by the server (103) viathe API. The mobile application (137) provides the user interface (155)to gather input on user preferences (147) and communicate the userpreferences (147) to the server (103).

In one embodiment, the mobile application (137) and/or the server (103)is configured to re-compute the estimated time of arrival at the gate(125) in response to: a) flight status change (e.g., delayed, nowboarding, on-time, canceled); b) geo-location change (e.g., the mobiledevice (101) moves from point A to point B); c) elapsed time (e.g., timechanges from 12:41 p to 12:42 p); and d) an order is ready for pick upor is out for delivery. The mobile application (137) presents theestimated time of arrival in relation with the scheduled boarding timeof the flight. When the estimated time of arrival in relation is with apredetermined threshold within the scheduled boarding time of theflight, the mobile application (137) and/or the server (103) providesthe alert for action and/or the navigational guidance for the nextaction.

FIG. 3 shows a method to provide time regulated navigation according toone embodiment. For example, the method of FIG. 3 can be implementedusing the mobile device (101) and the server (103) illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2.

In one embodiment, a computing system is configured to: receive (201)user preferences (147) for navigation; receive (203) flight information(151); determine (205) a location of a mobile device (101); compute(207) a route from the location to an airport terminal gate (125) forboarding a flight in accordance with the flight information (151);retrieve (209) delay measurements (143) on the route; compute (211) timedurations for segments of the route; schedule (213) timing of travel onthe segments; provide (215) alerts on the mobile device (101) accordingto the timing and the location of the mobile device (101); monitor (217)the location of the mobile device (101); and update (219) navigationguidance and alerts based on the location of the mobile device and thedelay measurements.

FIG. 4 shows a data processing system that can be used to implement somecomponents of a system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a data processing system that can be used to implement somecomponents of a robotic system according to one embodiment. For example,the data processing system of FIG. 4 can be used to implement each ofthe controller of the robot (101), the dock station (137), the server(139), and/or the database (141) discussed above.

While FIG. 4 illustrates various components of a computer system, it isnot intended to represent any particular architecture or manner ofinterconnecting the components. One embodiment may use other systemsthat have fewer or more components than those shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, the data processing system (170) includes an inter-connect(171) (e.g., bus and system core logic), which interconnects amicroprocessor(s) (173) and memory (167). The microprocessor (173) iscoupled to cache memory (179) in the example of FIG. 4.

In one embodiment, the inter-connect (171) interconnects themicroprocessor(s) (173) and the memory (167) together and alsointerconnects them to input/output (I/O) device(s) (175) via I/Ocontroller(s) (177). I/O devices (175) may include a display deviceand/or peripheral devices, such as mice, keyboards, modems, networkinterfaces, printers, scanners, video cameras and other devices known inthe art, In one embodiment, when the data processing system is a serversystem, some of the I/O devices (175), such as printers, scanners, mice,and/or keyboards, are optional.

In one embodiment, the inter-connect (171) includes one or more busesconnected to one another through various bridges, controllers and/oradapters. In one embodiment the I/O controllers (177) include a USB(Universal Serial Bus) adapter for controlling USB peripherals, and/oran IEEE-1394 bus adapter for controlling IEEE-1394 peripherals.

In one embodiment, the memory (167) includes one or more of: ROM (ReadOnly Memory), volatile RAM (Random Access Memory), and non-volatilememory, such as hard drive, flash memory, etc.

Volatile RAM is typically implemented as dynamic RAM (DRAM) whichrequires power continually in order to refresh or maintain the data inthe memory. Non-volatile memory is typically a magnetic hard drive, amagnetic optical drive, an optical drive e.g., a DVD RAM), or other typeof memory system which maintains data even after power is removed fromthe system. The non-volatile memory may also be a random access memory.

The non-volatile memory can be a local device coupled directly to therest of the components in the data processing system. A non-volatilememory that is remote from the system, such as a network storage devicecoupled to the data processing system through a network interface suchas a modem or Ethernet interface, can also be used.

In the present disclosure, some functions and operations are describedas being performed by or caused by software code to simplifydescription. However, such expressions are also used to specify that thefunctions result from execution of the code/instructions by a processor,such as a microprocessor.

Alternatively, or in combination, the functions and operations asdescribed here can be implemented using special purpose circuitry, withor without software instructions, such as using Application-SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC) or Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA),Embodiments can be implemented using hardwired circuitry withoutsoftware instructions, or in combination with software instructions.Thus, the techniques are limited neither to any specific combination ofhardware circuitry and software, nor to any particular source for theinstructions executed by the data processing system.

While one embodiment can be implemented in fully functioning computersand computer systems, various embodiments are capable of beingdistributed as a computing product in a variety of forms and are capableof being applied regardless of the particular type of machine orcomputer-readable media used to actually effect the distribution.

At least some aspects disclosed can be embodied, at least in part, insoftware. That is, the techniques may be carried out in a computersystem or other data processing system in response to its processor,such as a microprocessor, executing sequences of instructions containedin a memory, such as ROM, volatile RAM, non-volatile memory, cache or aremote storage device.

Routines executed to implement the embodiments may be implemented aspart of an operating system or a specific application, component,program, object, module or sequence of instructions referred to as“computer programs.” The computer programs typically include one or moreinstructions set at various times in various memory and storage devicesin a computer, and that, when read and executed by one or moreprocessors in a computer, cause the computer to perform operationsnecessary to execute elements involving the various aspects.

A machine readable medium can be used to store software and data whichwhen executed by a data processing system causes the system to performvarious methods. The executable software and data may be stored invarious places including for example ROM, volatile RAM, non-volatilememory and/or cache. Portions of this software and/or data may be storedin any one of these storage devices. Further, the data and instructionscan be obtained from centralized servers or peer to peer networks.Different portions of the data and instructions can be obtained fromdifferent centralized servers and/or peer to peer networks at differenttimes and in different communication sessions or in a same communicationsession. The data and instructions can be obtained in entirety prior tothe execution of the applications. Alternatively, portions of the dataand instructions can be obtained dynamically, just in time, when neededfor execution. Thus, it is not required that the data and instructionsbe on a machine readable medium in entirety at a particular instance oftime.

Examples of computer-readable media include but are not limited torecordable and non-recordable type media such as volatile andnon-volatile memory devices, read only memory (ROM), random accessmemory (RAM), flash memory devices, floppy and other removable disks,magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media (e.g., Compact DiskRead-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs), etc.), amongothers. The computer-readable media may store the instructions,

The instructions may also be embodied in digital and analogcommunication links for electrical, optical, acoustical or other formsof propagated signals, such as carrier waves, infrared signals, digitalsignals, etc. However, propagated signals, such as carrier waves,infrared signals, digital signals, etc. are not tangible machinereadable medium and are not configured to store instructions.

In general, a machine readable medium includes any mechanism thatprovides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a formaccessible by a machine (e.g., a computer, network device, personaldigital assistant, manufacturing tool, any device with a set of one ormore processors, etc.).

In various embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in combinationwith software instructions to implement the techniques. Thus, thetechniques are neither limited to any specific combination of hardwarecircuitry and software nor to any particular source for the instructionsexecuted by the data processing system.

The description and drawings are illustrative and are not to beconstrued as limiting. The present disclosure is illustrative ofinventive features to enable a person skilled in the art to make and usethe techniques. Various features, as described herein, should be used incompliance with all current and future rules, laws and regulationsrelated to privacy, security_(;) permission, consent, authorization, andothers. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thoroughunderstanding. However, in certain instances, well known or conventionaldetails are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description.References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure are notnecessarily references to the same embodiment; and, such references meanat least one.

The use of headings herein is merely provided for ease of reference, andshall not be interpreted in any way to limit this disclosure or thefollowing claims.

Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Theappearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment,and are not necessarily all referring to separate or alternativeembodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, variousfeatures are described which may be exhibited by one embodiment and notby others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may berequirements for one embodiment but not other embodiments. Unlessexcluded by explicit description and/or apparent incompatibility, anycombination of various features described in this description is alsoincluded here. For example, the features described above in connectionwith “in one embodiment” or “in some embodiments” can be all optionallyincluded in one implementation, except where the dependency of certainfeatures on other features, as apparent from the description, may limitthe options of excluding selected features from the implementation, andincompatibility of certain features with other features, as apparentfrom the description, may limit the options of including selectedfeatures together in the implementation.

The disclosures of the above discussed patent documents are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evidentthat various modifications may be made thereto without departing fromthe broader spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims. Thespecification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server computer system, comprising: at leastone communication device; at least one microprocessor; and a memorystoring instructions executed by the at least one microprocessor to:communicate using the at least one communication device with a pluralityof queue monitoring systems to determine one or more real time waittimes at one or more queues in an airport; communicate using the atleast one communication device to track flight information for a flightand that include a boarding time for such flight; and communicate with amobile application running in a mobile apparatus to provide navigationalguidance to a gate in a terminal of the airport for boarding the flightbased on the determined one or more real time wait times at the one ormore queues in an airport, wherein the mobile application is configuredto communicate with an online map application to identify a route to thegate for boarding the flight and estimate a transit time of the routebased on the one or more real-time wait times at the one or morepredetermined queues, and wherein the mobile application is configuredto provide the navigational guidance according to tracked flightinformation for the flight, the identified route, and the estimatedtransit time, which is based on the real-time wait times.
 2. The serverof claim 1, wherein estimation of the transit time of the route isfurther based on real-time traffic condition information on roads of theroute.
 3. The server of claim 1, wherein the mobile application isconfigured to provide a user interface for receiving preferenceinformation comprising a preferred time to arrive before a boarding timeat the gate for the flight, wherein the mobile application is configuredto provide the navigational guidance to specify when to start travelingon the identified route so as to arrive at the gate at the preferredtime based on the estimated transit time.
 4. The server computer ofclaim 3, wherein the preference information further comprises aspecification as to whether traveling with children or other travelers,wherein when to start traveling on the identified route is further basedon statistical travel time for travelers who travelled with children orother travelers.
 5. The server computer of claim 1, wherein the trackedflight information further comprises any flight delays and gate changes.6. The server computer of claim 1, wherein the one or more real-timewait times at the one or more predetermined queues includes a queue fora user of the mobile device to pick up a product on the route to thegate in the airport, wherein the navigational guidance includesproviding a recommendation for a user to pre-order and pick up a productif the transit time would result in arrival at the gate more than apredefined period of time before boarding.
 7. The server of claim 1,wherein the mobile application is configured to provide the navigationalguidance according to the identified route and one or more times ofactions that include a time for doing a recommended activity if thetransit time is determined to result in arrival at the gate more than apredefined period of time before boarding, and wherein the navigationalguidance includes notification of the recommended activity.
 8. Theserver of claim 1, wherein the mobile application is further configuredto provide the navigational guidance to specify a time to starttraversing the identified route so as to arrive at the gate based on theboarding time for the flight and the estimated transit time, and thenavigational guidance includes notification of the time to start.
 9. Themobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more predeterminedqueues include a queue for airport security screening.
 10. The mobileapparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined queuesinclude a queue for check-in with an airline of the flight.
 11. Themobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein a wait time for one of the one ormore predetermined queues is determined via a camera capturing images ofthe queue and a server analyzing the images of the queue.
 12. The mobileapparatus of claim 1, wherein a wait time for a respective queue of theone or more predetermined queues is determined via the centralizedserver communicating with a. website of an operator of the respectivequeue.
 13. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein a wait time for arespective queue of the one or more predetermined queues is determinedvia passenger motion detectors installed to monitor the respectivequeue.
 14. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein a wait time for arespective queue of the one or more predetermined queues is determinedvia a cell phone tracking technology.
 15. The mobile apparatus of claim1, wherein the navigational guidance is color coded based on adifference between a remaining time period to the boarding of the flightand the estimated transit time to travel to the gate.
 16. A mobileapparatus, comprising: a communication device; a position determinationunit; an input/output device; at least one microprocessor; and a memorystoring instructions configured as a mobile application executed by theat least one microprocessor; wherein the mobile application isconfigured to provide, via the input/output device or the communicationdevice, an interface with a user or server to track flight information,including a boarding time, for a flight; receive input specifying aflight and a request for navigational guidance to a gate for boardingthe flight, present navigational guidance to the gate based on a transittime of a route to the gate for boarding the flight in a terminal of theairport and a location of the mobile apparatus determined by theposition determination unit; identify the route to the gate; andestimate the transit time of the route based on one or more real-timewait times at one or more predetermined queues in the airport to reachthe gate, wherein the mobile application is configured to compute timesof actions for the travel, including a time to start traversing theroute, based on the flight information and the estimated transit time,which is based on the real-time wait times, and to provide via the userinterface the navigational guidance according to the computed times ofactions.
 17. The mobile apparatus of claim 16, wherein estimation of thetransit time of the route is further based on real-time trafficcondition information on roads of the route.
 18. The mobile apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the mobile application is configured to provide a userinterface for receiving preference information comprising a preferredtime to arrive before a boarding time at the gate for the flight,wherein the mobile application is configured to provide the navigationalguidance to specify when to start traveling on the identified route soas to arrive at the gate at the preferred time based on the estimatedtransit time.
 19. The mobile apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mobileapplication is configured to provide the navigational guidance accordingto the identified route and one or more times of actions that include atime for doing a recommended activity if the transit time is determinedto result in arrival at the gate more than a predefined period of timebefore boarding, and wherein the navigational guidance includesnotification of the recommended activity.
 20. A non-transitory computerstorage medium storing instructions configured as a mobile application,which when executed on a mobile apparatus having a communication device,a position determination unit, an input/output device, and at least onemicroprocessor, causes the mobile apparatus to perform a method, themethod comprising: providing via the input/output device a userinterface to receive input specifying a flight and a request fornavigational guidance to a gate for boarding the flight, and presentnavigational guidance to the gate based on a boarding time, a transittime of a route to the gate for boarding the flight in a terminal of theairport, and a location of the mobile apparatus determined by theposition determination unit; communicating, using the communicationdevice, with a centralized server to track flight information for theflight, including the boarding time; identify the route to the gate; andestimate the transit time of the route based on one or more real-timewait times at one or more predetermined queues in the airport to reachthe gate; computing times of actions for the travel, including a time tostart traversing the route, based on the flight information and thetransit time, which is based on the real-time wait times; and providing,via the user interface, the navigational guidance according to thecomputed times of actions.